Lubricating device



(No Model.)

J. A. HORTON. LUBRIGATING DEVICE.

No. 309,055. Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

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JAMES A. HORTON, OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

LUBRICATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,055, dated December 9, 1884.

Application filed October 21. 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. HORTON, of Reading, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Lubricating; Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in automatic lubricating devices for vertical shafts or spindles, especially for the spindles of molding-machines for wood-working; and it consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

The accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, represents a vertical section of a molding-machine having my impro vement.

In the drawing, a represents the supportingbase of a moldingmachine, and (1 represents a vertical spindle, which rotates the cutter-head c. The spindle rotates in a step or bearing, d, at its lower end, and a bearing-block, e, of peculiar construction, near its upper end. Said bearing-block e is formed to fit a tapering enlargement, f, of the spindle, and is provided with oil passages or cavities 9, extending downwardly from a chamber, h, above the bearing, and communicating at their lower ends with the lower portion of the tapering bearing. The tapering portion f of the spindle is provided with a spiral groove, 2'. Oil poured into the chamber h fills the cavities g, and finds its way from the latter to the lower portion of the tapering bearing. The rapid rotation of the spindle and the tapering form of the enlargement causes the oil to follow the spiral groove 2', which raises the oil to the chamber h, discharging into said chamber the oil not consumed in lubricating the tapering surfaces of the enlargement and bearingblock. A plate or cover, 70, projecting over the chamber h, prevents the oil from being scattered as it is thrown out by centrifugal force from the upper end of the spiral groove. A continuous circulation of oil, and therefore a continuous lubrication of the bearing-surfaces,is thus maintained, the oil flowing back into the cavities g as fast as it is raised by the groove 2'.

(No model.)

The tapering form of the enlargement f is important, because it greatly facilitates the upward passage of the oil. The grooved portion f may be straight, however, instead of tapered, without departing from the spirit of my invention. The bearing-block c is provided with a suitable stuffing-box or device below the tapering enlargement, to prevent the escape of oil, said device being composed in the present instance of a compressible packing, l, surrounding the spindle d, and placed in a cavity in the bottom of the block, and a plate, m, secured by screws to the block, so as to compress and hold said packing.

It will be observed that the improved lubricating devices above described may be used for vertical shafts and spindles for other purposes, hence I do not limit myself to the use of said devices in a molding-machine.

I claim- 1. The vertical shaft having a spirallygrooved portion, f, combined with the beiring-block having the chamber h, and the oil receptacles or passages to conduct oil from the chamber h to the lower portion of the grooved portion f, as set forth.

2. The vertical shaft or spindle having a conical spirally-grooved enlargement combined with the bearing-block having the chamber h, to receive oil from the upper end of the said groove, and the oil receptacles or passages to conduct oil from said chamber to the lower portion of the enlargement, as set forth.

3. The bearingblock formed to receive the conical enlargement, and provided with the covered chamber h above said enlargement, the oil-conducting passages g, and the stuffingbox or packing below said enlargement, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name t 

